Casserole’s may be an old fashion weeknight dinner solution but with a few tricks you can spice up this classic and give any traditional casserole a face lift. This is my version of a broccoli, rice and tuna casserole.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Black Rice

1 Cup Ricotta Spinach Dip ( You can use my recipe in past blogs but its a combination of cooked chopped onions and spinach mixed into one cup Ricotta chesses with added salt, pepper, nutmeg and parm cheese for taste)

4 Cups Chopped Steam Broccoli (About 1 1/2 Large Heads)

1 Can Tuna (Optional* and can be replaced chicken breast shredded)

1 Cup Skim

1 Carrot

1 Celery Stalk

1 Tbs Rice Flour

1 Small Onion Chopped

1 Tbs Cant Believe Its Not Butter

1/2 Cup Parm Cheese

1 Tbs Soy Sauce

Salt

Pepper

I cook the rice in 2 Cups of water in a rice cooker while steaming the broccoli on the upper tray. If you don’t have a rice cooker this can be done in two different pots. While rice and broccoli are cooking you can make the sauce. Start by browning onion, celery and carrots in a pan. Once browning begins add salt, pepper and butter. Add the rice flour and mix well, toasting the flour for a few minutes. Add milk and mix well, continue to cook over medium heat while string. Milk mixture will start to thicken quickly. Add ricotta cheese mixture and mix well. Cook over low heat and add soy sauce. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Once everything is done place tuna in a large bowl. Start by adding rice to bowl and mixing well. Add chopped broccoli and continue to mix. Last, add cheese mix to bowl and mix very well so that everything is evenly mixed. Taste one last time to make sure it does not need more salt of pepper. Press into a square casserole dish and top with parm cheese. Cook at 350 degree for about 15-30 minutes and then boil on high for 1-2 minutes to brown top. Enjoy.

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